Price: $11.99
To become a successful playwright, you need to immerse yourself in the world of theatre. Ideas are abundant, but the key lies in your unique perspective – delve into your personal experiences, passions, and convictions. Scrutinize the world from different viewpoints. Engaging in various creative exercises can stimulate your thought process and generate fresh ideas. Identify your target audience and tailor your content to resonate with them. To master the art of writing dialogue, study and record everyday conversations. While the dialogue should mirror natural speech, it should also play a pivotal role in guiding the narrative.
Understanding the depth of your main characters is crucial. Conduct a comprehensive character analysis and determine the traits that you wish to highlight. A character should strike a balance between being relatable and unique. Most plays revolve around a plot, which typically involves a conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist. The structure of a plot usually comprises an inciting incident, rising action, turning point, climax, and falling action. Various other organizational structures for a play can include circular and thematic.
Before setting pen to paper, establish a core idea. Plays serve multiple purposes, from entertainment to education, or raising awareness on a topic. Determine your objective and align it with your audience’s interests for maximum impact.
A successful play appeals to a universal audience. While maintaining a sense of unity, a play should also offer contrast. Remember, theatre is a shared art form. The director, actors, and designers might interpret different aspects differently than you. A well-written play can easily find its way to production, with schools, organizations, and professional theatres being potential markets. Adherence to a certain format is a must for finalized plays.
About the Expert
Marsh Cassady is an accomplished playwright with thirty-eight plays to his name, some of which have been showcased Off-Broadway. He is a former theatre professor with a Ph.D. degree and is credited with launching a playwriting program at Montclair State in New Jersey. This program